"Poor Buggy," Xiano chuckled, holding a fishing rod on the deck of the Orange Garden, having just put down the newspaper he had bought. He laughed so hard he nearly fell over.
It wasn't his fault for setting someone up.
With Arlong dead, the East Blue was left with only small fry, and he couldn't find another character who fit Nezumi's description of "hiding great strength" over the phone.
So, there was no choice but to let the great Buggy take the fall.
After all, someone with the Conqueror's Haki-level luck shouldn't capsize in such a small storm.
In truth, the fleet sent by Marine Headquarters wasn't necessarily aiming to wipe out the Buggy Pirates completely.
As long as they could scare them out of the East Blue and force them into the Grand Line, the mission would be considered accomplished.
The four seas were the foundation of the World Government's rule, with their vast population and land far surpassing the Grand Line. The East Blue, in particular, had enjoyed peace since Roger's execution and couldn't tolerate too much turbulence.
The Grand Line, on the other hand, was more like a battle royale track prepared for pirates. Without much interference, they would kill each other off in no time.
The fishing rod remained still in his hand, with no movement at all.
Xiano didn't mind.
Fishing was a hobby he had picked up in his previous life as a corporate drone, but he hadn't touched it much after reincarnating.
Now, he was just using it to adjust his overly tense mindset, which hadn't fully returned to normal. He had casually used half a red bean bun as bait, not expecting any foolish fish to bite.
"Boss," Skinny Monkey's voice came from the crow's nest. "We can already see Shimotsuki Village ahead. We'll arrive in half an hour at most."
"Oh?" Xiano was surprised. It was faster than he had expected by nearly half a day. Arlong's ship was indeed quite speedy.
He set the fishing rod aside and turned to look at the distant horizon, where the outline of an island could vaguely be seen.
This trip to Shimotsuki Village wasn't just to gather some resources but also to resolve the issue of Zeff's severed leg.
Originally, he thought the best solution would be to find some miraculous elixir in the trading market that could regenerate flesh and blood.
Such things were rare, but he wasn't in a hurry since there were still several years before the agreed-upon deadline. He could wait patiently.
However, two months ago, while buying "Iron Bone," he unexpectedly came across this item:
[Genos's Biochemical Modification Leg]
[Type: Equipment]
[Price: 625 Points]
[Description: A mechanical leg modified by Dr. Kusuno from the One Punch Man world. It automatically adjusts to fit individuals of various heights and body types and has self-repair capabilities.]
[Seller's Note: Finally, I've found a valuable offering. Wait, why is a bald guy with a dark expression walking toward me?]
…
Well, this solution wasn't bad either. Joining the glorious evolution, as it were.
Xiano bought it on the spot, planning to deliver it to Zeff.
However.
This made him wonder what the old man's title would become when he set sail with him in the future…
Xiano shrugged and glanced at his remaining Points.
Over the past year, aside from buying the training manuals for the "Six Styles" and the "Flesh Furnace Method" whenever possible, he hadn't spent much recklessly.
Adding to that the Points he had earned from the Arlong Pirates and Nezumi in recent days, his remaining Points were exactly 36,000, only two or three thousand less than a year ago.
"This month, there's nothing worth buying. I'll have to wait until next month to see."
Xiano was pondering this while pinching his chin when suddenly, the fishing rod at his feet started to shake and slide toward the edge of the boat. He quickly stepped on it to stop it.
Even this couldn't end up with an empty catch?!
With one hand, he grabbed the fishing rod and felt its weight—it was quite heavy, probably over a hundred pounds. Xiano was overjoyed and immediately gave it a strong pull—
Whoosh! A stubborn green-haired boy with a red bean bun in his mouth was pulled out of the water, looking around in confusion.
"..."
After a moment of eye contact, three black lines appeared on Xiano's forehead.
"Why is it you?!" they both shouted in unison.
...
An hour later, on a rural path leading to the Isshin Dojo.
"So, you were swimming laps around the entire island to train your leg muscles?"
"Yeah, that's the goal Zeff set for me."
Zoro walked at the front, holding seven or eight red bean buns in his hands, devouring them. "It's exhausting. I was only on my twelfth lap when I got so hungry, otherwise I wouldn't have been lured by your bun!"
"Oh, I see... Wait, no, that doesn't make sense!" Xiano widened his eyes. "Shouldn't you be focusing on your swordsmanship to catch up to Kuina? Why are you learning leg techniques?"
Could it be that he got beaten by Kuina again for a whole year, losing all his confidence?
"That's not it!"
Zoro, understanding Xiano's implication, couldn't help but shout, "It's that smug Curly Brow kid! He started learning leg techniques from Zeff over half a year ago and has been doing pretty well. Zeff praised him a few times, and he started showing off in front of me. I couldn't stand it, so I started too..."
Xiano quickly grabbed Zoro, who was about to walk off to the right. "Where are you going? It's to the left!"
Damn, I remembered the way after just one visit. How do you manage to get lost on a path you walk every day?!
"Oh, yeah, it is to the left."
Zoro scratched his head. "Anyway, I started learning leg techniques from Zeff too, but I haven't neglected my swordsmanship! I just want to prove to that smug Curly Brow that I'm more talented than him. It's just a leg technique—I can master it with a few hours of practice every day!"
As they spoke.
The group followed Zoro and arrived at the entrance of the Isshin Dojo.
Before even entering, they saw a blond, curly-browed boy in the courtyard, holding a bamboo sword in each hand and one in his mouth, firmly planted in a horse stance, rapidly swinging his swords and striking the wooden posts around him with loud cracks.
"..."
Xiano fell silent.
He took a step back and glanced at the sign. It was indeed the Isshin Dojo—they hadn't taken a wrong turn.
"Hey, Zoro..." Nojiko poked Zoro's arm and whispered, "That guy looks really weird. Why does he have to hold one in his mouth too?"
"Pretty dumb, right? I think so too!"
Zoro took a bite of his red bean bun and sneered, "This guy saw that I'm a unique dual-blade swordsman and wanted to prove he's better, so he started holding one in his mouth too, calling himself a three-sword style swordsman! What a lunatic! Who fights like that?"
"Totally dumb," Nami and Nojiko nodded in agreement.
Sanji noticed the large group outside at this point.
"Mr. Xiano! What brings you here?"
His eyes lit up with surprise, but then he saw Zoro at the front and couldn't help but laugh, hands on his hips.
"Hey! Mosshead! How was my sword speed just now? I'm not much slower than you anymore. In a few months, I bet you won't just lose to Kuina, but you'll be no match for my swordsmanship either!"
"Keep dreaming, idiot!"
Zoro sneered, crossing his arms, then spun around and delivered a powerful side kick. The signboard of the Isshin Dojo exploded into pieces.
"Instead, why don't you take a look at my leg techniques? See this power? I've already completely surpassed you! Leg techniques are way easier to master than swordsmanship!"
"Bullshit!"
Sanji roared, slashing out three swift strikes with his knives. In an instant, the shattered pieces of the signboard on the ground were reduced to even finer wood chips.
"See that! Clearly, swordsmanship isn't all that impressive!"
"Leg techniques!"
"Swordsmanship!"
Their noses nearly touching, the two of them argued more and more fiercely.
Completely unaware that behind them, Zeff and Koshiro had appeared at some point, standing side by side, their faces as dark as the bottom of a pot…
(End of Chapter)